Pembroke Park man planned to use firebomb, deputies say

A Pembroke Park man is accused of trying to set his apartment building ablaze to keep people he believed were coming to harm him from getting close, according to a Broward sheriff's report.

Michael Reddick, 47, was charged with attempted first-degree arson, multiple counts of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a violent career criminal and possession or manufacturing of a firebomb, which is commonly known as a Molotov cocktail, records show.

During his first-appearance court hearing Wednesday, Reddick was ordered held without bond because of a prior pending criminal charge of battery on a law enforcement officer.

Monday's incident occurred about 9:15 p.m. at Lake Villa Apartments in the 2300 block of South Park Road, the Sheriff's Office said. Officials responded to a report of a disturbance there.

Reddick poured gasoline on the floor of his apartment near the front door and intended to light it, the Sheriff's Office said. He told investigators that he feared people were coming to hurt him, it said.

"The apartment building was fully occupied. The defendant knew it," said Broward Judge John "Jay" Hurley during the hearing.

Authorities also found a Molotov cocktail near the front door that had been made using a plastic gallon-sized jug filled with gasoline and plugged with a sock in its opening, the report said.

The document also said that one of the firefighters called to safeguard the building found a revolver loaded with three live rounds and a spent round inside Reddick's apartment.

Reddick also was found to have a warrant for driving with a suspended license and has 10 felony convictions, the report said.

Assistant State Attorney Eric Linder said Reddick likely would not face all counts of possession of a weapon or ammunition by a violent career criminal. The state is unlikely to file charges for each bullet found in the weapon, he said.